Fashion and Textile Upcycling : Developments in Research and Practice

Presenting cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and new practices from global experts in the field, this book highlights the changes being made to make the fashion industry more sustainable through fashion and textile upcycling.

Presenting cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and new practices from global experts in the field, this book highlights the changes being made to make the fashion industry more sustainable through fashion and textile upcycling. While the fashion industry provides essential clothing and fashion products to consumers worldwide and is a major source of employment in many countries, it is notoriously wasteful and environmentally damaging. Recognising the industry's negative impact on the environment, particularly through the lens of fast fashion and throwaway consumer culture, this book identifies emerging and established leaders working to make the industry more sustainable and circular. Showcasing a collection of creative material practices that transform textile waste into new products and materials of equal or higher quality or value than the constituent elements, it includes coverage of upcycling theories, traditional and contemporary practices, and experiments from practitioners and other stakeholders around the world. Through a variety of innovative approaches, scientific findings and practical outcomes, the book proposes a way forward for sustainable and circular fashion and textiles. Encouraging readers to rethink the status quo, it prompts a reimagining of the future, where the fashion industry is the largest and most successful contributor to a circular economy. The book will be a key resource for students, academics, practitioners and policymakers on how to reduce fashion and textile waste, conserve resources, reduce environmental impact, create economic opportunities, foster innovation, and promote social and cultural value in the circular economy.